New Lenox Girls Softball Association Link: www.nlgsa.org
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Softball Pitching Drills
Six-Point Drill
This Drill is designed to stop at each of the Six Most Important steps a pitcher should pass during their pitching motion.
Step 1
Start this drill by taking your regular stance
on a flat surface (or the top of the pitching rubber).
Step 2
Bring your hands together in front of your
body (Presenting the Ball).
Step 3
Drop your pitching hand to your side, and either
A-point your glove at the catcher (Beginner)
B-Keep the glove hand against your body (Intermediate)
or C- Bring the glove down with the ball (Advanced)
Step 4
Extend the glove, pitching hand and your non-pivot
foot in front of your body.
Step 5
You should keep your glove and foot extended in
front of your body as you lift the ball over your head.
Step 6
Move the glove hand arm in a breast stroke motion
as you bring the ball downward toward the catcher.
Release the ball and follow through with both hands
up in front of your body, ready to field a batted ball.
Warm-up #1
Draw a line on the ground running perpendicular to the pitcher's plate and stand with your toes touching it (your feet should be a little more than shoulder length apart).
Raise your pitching hand behind you making sure that your hand is on the side of the ball (just as if you were walking) and that the ball is directly above the line.
Start the ball in a downward motion making sure that the shoulders don't move (this will force you to bend the elbow slightly when the hand is pointed toward the catcher).
When your hand is extended toward the catcher, "SHAKE HANDS THE CATCHER".
As you continue to move your arm upward through the windmill, bend your back leg "Squish the Bug" and stiffen your front leg, making sure that your weight stays on the back leg.
Remember at this point that the ball should be above your head with your hand in a "pat myself on the head" position.
Finally, as your arm begins it descent, release the ball toward the catcher (who should stand about 15 ft away) as your hand passes your hip. Make sure that you keep your hand in a "Shake Hands" position with the catcher until the ball is returned to you.
NOTE: Don't shake hands with a straight arm - The elbow should be bent slightly after the release.
Warm-up #2
Face your catcher who should initially stand 10-15 feet away from you. Using the line that was drawn in Drill #1, bring the ball down to your side so that is directly above the line - with your hand on the side of the ball.
As you bring the ball toward the catcher, make sure that it stays directly above the line. As the ball begins moving upward, make sure you are in a "SHAKE HANDS" position with the catcher.
When the ball gets over your head, you should begin to bend your knees slightly.
As the ball starts its downward movement, make sure your arm is extended and "shaking hands" with the second baseman.
When the ball passes the hip, you should look like a gunfighter drawing his gut.
Release the ball at the hip and point your index finger at the target when your are finished.
THE ARM SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY BENT AND THE HAND SHOULD LOOK LIKE A GUNFIGHTER SHOOTING AT HIS TARGET.
NOTE: The catcher should move the target to different locations before each pitch. As soon as you can hit your targets consistently, the catcher should move back a few steps.
The Knee Drill
Kneel on you pitching hand-side knee. Bend your other leg with that foot flat on the ground.
WITHOUT BENDING YOUR BODY, pitch in a windmill fashion to your catcher standing 30-40 feet away.
Standing Drill #1
Stand on your pitching hand-side leg with your glove-side leg lifted in the air. Place the glove on the lifted knee and pitch to a catcher standing 30-40 feet away.
DO NOT LET THE LEG UNDER THE GLOVE OR THE PITCHING HAND COME DOWN UNTIL THE BALL IS IN THE CATCHER'S GLOVE.
Standing Drill #2
Extend both arms in front of your body. While standing on your pivot foot, extend your other foot so that both your arms and glove-side leg meet in front of your body. Bring the ball directly around from the extended position and pitch the ball to the catcher standing behind home plate.
DO NOT DROP YOUR PITCHING HAND UNTIL THE CATCHER RETURNS THE BALL.
Long Toss
Stand as far away from your catcher as you can and throw underhand (Not Pitch) to her. Try to throw the ball over the catcher's head.
Keep moving back until you no longer can. KEEP YOUR HAND UP WHEN FINISHED WITH THE THROW.
Speed Drill
Stand Approx 40 ft from your catcher. Throw the ball to the catcher as quickly as possible. When you release the ball, both hands should be extended in front and slightly above your head.
The catcher should return the ball as quickly as possible. When you receive the ball, take it directly from where you catch it and throw it back to the catcher.
IMPORTANT TIP: Don't drop the hand to your side when you catch the ball - take it directly overhead and throw it to the catcher.